Tridimensional Microstructures of C-SWNT Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposite by Means of a Microfluidic Infiltration Approa

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1056-HH09-10

Tridimensional Microstructures of C-SWNT Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposite by Means of a Microfluidic Infiltration Approach Louis Laberge Lebel1, Brahim Aissa2, My Ali El Khakani2, and Daniel Therriault1 1 Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, 2900 blv. Edouart-Montpetit, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada 2 INRS-Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1650 Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, C.P. 1020, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada ABSTRACT Three-dimensional (3D) microstructures of single walled carbon nanotube (CSWNT)/polymer nanocomposite are fabricated by the infiltration of 3D microfluidic networks. The microfluidic network was first fabricated by direct-write assembly which consists of the robotised deposition of fugitive ink filaments on an epoxy substrate to form a 3D microstructured network. After encapsulation of the deposited structure with an epoxy resin, the fugitive ink was removed by heating, resulting in a 3D network of microchannels. This microfluidic network is then infiltrated by an ultraviolet (UV) -curable polymer loaded with C-SWNTs. The C-SWNTs were produced by the UV-laser ablation method, physico-chemically purified and dispersed in a polymer matrix using ultrasonic treatment in dichloromethane. The C-SWNTs were characterized by microRaman spectroscopy. The infiltrated nanocomposite (i.e., the C-SWNT reinforced polymer) is then cured under UV exposure and post-cured. The manufactured 3D microstructures were rectangular sandwich beams having an epoxy core and unidirectional nanocomposite fibers placed parallel to the beam axis, on both sides of the core. Flexural mechanical tests were performed on empty, pure resin and nanocomposite microfluidic beams using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The achieved nanocomposite beams were found to show an increase of 5% in the storage modulus and more than 50% increase in the loss modulus, under 30°C compared to the pure resin beams. The nanocomposite infiltration of microfluidic networks is shown to be a promising approach to achieve 3D nanocomposite microstructures. INTRODUCTION Single-walled carbon nanotubes [1, 2] (C-SWNT), with their high aspect ratio and their excellent mechanical [3] and electrical [4] properties, are prime candidates to improve the mechanical and electrical characteristics of polymer nanocomposites, opening thereby new prospects for their application in various fields such as strain and damage sensing [5], eletroactive shape-memory polymers [6], electrostatic discharge and electro-magnetic radio interference protection[7]. Several challenges have to be addressed in order to obtain a functional product using CSWNTs reinforced polymer nanocomposites. First, the nanotubes have to be purified and appropriately dispersed in the polymer matrix. Moreover, a chemical interaction between the host polymer and the C-SWNTs is necessary to ensure their appropriate anchoring with the polymer. Finally, the spatial orientation and disposition of the axisymmetric reinforcement in a f

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